Page 41 of One Night of Scandal
“Have you?” Jack’s question was casually spoken, but Viola felt him tense.
“It’s come to our attention you were seen at a meeting of the Spencean Philanthropists last night.” Caldwell spoke so loudly that the people walking around them stopped and turned to stare at what was going on.
“Furthermore, it seems as though you had something to do with the Spa Fields riots and maybe even the ghastly attack on the Prince Regent.”
Anger and fear prompted Viola to blurt, “That’s absurd.” She looked over at Jack, who barely seemed to register what he was being accused of, save the tightening of his mouth and jaw.
“Careful with your accusations,” he said softly, almost menacingly. His tone made Viola’s neck prickle.
Caldwell straightened, his gaze both taunting and superior. “You were seen at the Bull and Fox last night. Can you prove you weren’t there?”
He could not. Because hehadbeen there. Oh, this was an absolute disaster.
“I can,” Viola said without thinking. She ignored the sudden clasp of Jack’s hand over hers on his arm.
Sir Humphrey scoffed. “How can you do that?”
She glared at him and then at Caldwell for good measure. “Because he was with me.”
“Viola.” The urgent whisper floated to her from Jack’s lips.
Turning her head, she tried to use her eyes to silently plead with him to go along with what she was saying. If he contradicted her, he would only look even more guilty because she’d tried to hide the fact that hehadbeen at the Bull and Fox.
Caldwell sneered. “You’re saying Barrett couldn’t have been at the Spencean meeting because he was withyou? We’re supposed to just believe that?”
Viola straightened her spine and gave him a haughty stare she was sure her grandmother would be proud of. Oh God, her grandmother… She couldn’t think about her right now. “Yes. My brother is the Duke of Eastleigh. My testimony as to Mr. Barrett’s whereabouts last night should be more than sufficient proof. I would also add that you’d better have evidence about hisallegedparticipation in any radical events. Now, you will excuse us.”
She pivoted and dragged Jack along with her. Searching wildly for Grandmama’s brougham, she saw it parked beneath a tree on the other side of the Ring. “Hell,” she muttered, quickening her pace. “We need to get to my grandmother.”
“Where?”
“Over on the other side of the Ring.”
They kept to the footpath, though she was tempted to cut across the grass to the other path that would take them to where Grandmama was parked.
“What on earth were you doing back there?” he sounded…angry.
“Why are you upset with me?” She worked to keep her focus straight ahead lest she become aware of anyone looking at them. It was too much to hope no one had overheard what had been said. But even if they hadn’t, Caldwell and Sir Humphrey were likely telling anyone who would listen.
She’d just claimed—out loud, on the busiest afternoon of the Season in Hyde Park—that she’d been with Jack Barrett, MP, last night. In reality, she had been at home while Grandmama had attended a card party at Lady Dunwich’s.
“I’m angry because you just created a massive scandal—for both of us.”
“I’m not new at that,” she said quietly.
“I am.”
Viola flinched. The worst part of abandoning your betrothed at the altar was the fact that it hadn’t just affected her, which she had been more than willing to endure. She’d known her reputation would be ruined and had hated that Ledbury’s would be tainted. He’d survived, of course, and so had she. She would survive again. Would Jack?
She walked even faster as they turned to the other footpath that would take them to the brougham. Her mind scrambled to think of how to fix this for Jack. She didn’t care about herself. She’d long ago accepted her pariah status. But Jack was a rising political star. Still, wasn’t this better than being seen at a meeting of known radicals?
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking. I was just trying to protect you. We’ll come up with something. Perhaps Val and Isabelle can say they were with us—we had dinner. And I didn’t say all that because I was flustered. Yes, that could work.”
“Assuming they weren’t somewhere else last night that would completely destroy your fake alibi.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “While I appreciate you wanting to protect me, you shouldn’t have said anything. I haven’t done anything wrong. It’s not a crime to be somewhere.”
“No, but it could be incredibly damaging.”
“So can this.” His tone was dark, and he was clearly not done being angry.
